Invest in tools students can grow with: GitHub and RStudio for data science at Duke University

Data science education, as exemplified by Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel at Duke University, emphasizes equipping students from diverse academic backgrounds with the skills to analyze a wide range of datasets rigorously. Her course, Master Statistics with R, focuses on reproducible computation using tools like R Markdown, RStudio, Git, and GitHub, allowing students to document and replicate their data analysis processes. Çetinkaya-Rundel's pedagogical approach encourages students to engage with real-world data quickly and efficiently, fostering an environment where they can experiment and explore beyond assigned tasks. By integrating Git from the start, students gradually learn version control, which enhances their collaborative skills and prepares them for future professional opportunities, as they gain familiarity with tools commonly used in the field. Her instructional methods not only prepare students academically but also provide them with practical experience that can be leveraged in internships and research positions.